Tuesday, February 24, 2009

What I like about ... bananas

We have so many varieties of bananas here in the Philippines but there are 3 varieties that I really like... “lakatan, latundan, and saba”.

“Lakatan” (also known as Cavendish internationally) has a light yellow flesh when ripe while “latundan’s” flesh is white. Lakatan is the only variety that is exported because it is hardy and has thick skin. However, the exported kind is bigger than but not as tasty as the local kind.

“Saba” although it can also be eaten raw when ripe, is known more as the cooking kind of banana because it is prepared in so many different ways. It can be broiled, boiled, stewed or fried. It can also be cooked plain or coated with sugar or flour. It is also used as secondary ingredient in many dishes. My favourite way of preparing “saba” is what is locally called “banana cue”. This is made by rolling in brown sugar a ripe banana , deep-frying it in oil and then skewering it in bamboo stick. If you should ever come to the Philippines, you should try this... it’s really good!

I can sing praises about bananas all day but I think it’s better if you just read the following item sent to me through email. I have been eating bananas every since I can remember but knowing about all the benefits from the banana based on this article, I have come to appreciate this fruit even more.

By the way ... Never, put your banana in the refrigerator ! ! !

Read on... and please pass on to friends....

From an email....
This is interesting. After reading this, you'll never look at a banana in
the same way again.

A banana gives an instant, sustained and substantial boost of energy.
Research has proven that just two bananas provide enough energy for a
strenuous 90-minute workout No wonder the, banana is the number one fruit
with the world's leading athletes.

But energy isn't the only way a banana can help us keep fit. It can also
help overcome or prevent a substantial number of illnesses and
conditions, making it a must to add to our daily diet.

Depression: According to a recent survey undertaken by MIND amongst people suffering from depression, many felt much better after eating a banana.
This is because bananas contain tryptophan, a type of protein that the
body converts into serotonin, known to make you relax, improve your mood
and generally make you feel happier.

Anemia: High in iron, bananas can stimulate the production of hemoglobin
in the blood and so helps in cases of anemia.

Blood Pressure: This unique tropical fruit is extremely high in potassium
yet low in salt, making it perfect to beat blood pressure. So much so,
the US Food and Drug Administration has just allowed the banana industry
to make official claims for the fruit's ability to reduce the risk of
blood pressure and stroke.

Brain Power: 200 students at a Twickenham (Middlesex) school were helped
through their exams this year by eating bananas at breakfast, break, and
lunch in a bid to boost their brain power. Research has shown that the
potassium-packed fruit can assist learning by making pupils more alert.

Constipation: High in fiber, including bananas in the diet can help
restore normal bowel action, helping to overcome the problem without
resorting to laxatives.

Hangovers: One of the quickest ways of curing a hangover is to make a
banana milkshake, sweetened with honey. The banana calms the stomach and,
with the help of the honey, builds up depleted blood sugar levels, while
the milk soothes and re-hydrates your system

Heartburn: Bananas have a natural antacid effect in the body, so if you
suffer from heartburn, try eating a banana for soothing relief.

Mosquito bites: Before reaching for the insect bite cream, try rubbing the
affected area with the inside of a banana skin. Many people find it
amazingly successful at reducing swelling and irritation.

Nerves: Bananas are high in B vitamins that help calm the nervous system.

Overweight and at work?
Studies at the Institute of Psychology in Austria found pressure at work
leads to gorging on comfort food like chocolate and crisps. Looking at
5,000 hospital patients, researchers found the most obese were more
likely to be in high-pressure jobs. The report concluded that, to avoid
panic-induced food cravings, we need to control our blood sugar levels by
snacking on high carbohydrate foods every two hours to keep levels steady.

Ulcers: The banana is used as the dietary food against intestinal
disorders because of its soft texture and smoothness. It is the only raw
fruit that can be eaten without distress in over-chronicler cases.

It also neutralizes over-acidity and reduces irritation by coating the
lining of the stomach.

Temperature control: Many other cultures see bananas as a "cooling" fruit
that can lower both the physical and emotional temperature of expectant
mothers. In Thailand, for example, pregnant women eat bananas to ensure
their baby is born with a cool temperature.

Smoking: Bananas can also help people trying to give up smoking.
The B6, B12 they contain, as well as the potassium and magnesium found in
them, help the body recover from the effects of nicotine withdrawal.

Stress: Potassium is a vital mineral, which helps normalize the heartbeat,
sends oxygen to the brain and regulates your body's water balance. When we
are stressed, our metabolic rate rises, thereby reducing our potassium
levels. These can be rebalanced with the help of a high-potassium banana
snack.

Strokes: According to research in "The New England Journal of Medicine,
"eating bananas as part of a regular diet can cut the risk of death by
strokes by as much as 40%!

Warts: Those keen on natural alternatives swear that if you want to kill
off a wart, take a piece of banana skin and place it on the wart, with
the yellow side out. Carefully hold the skin in place with a plaster or
surgical tape!

So, a banana really is a natural remedy for many ills. When you compare it
to an apple, it has four times the protein, twice the carbohydrate, three
times the phosphorus, five times the vitamin A and iron, and twice the
other vitamins and minerals. It is also rich in potassium and is one of
the best value foods around. So maybe it’s time to change that well-known
phrase so that we say, "A banana a day keeps the doctor away!"

PASS IT ON TO YOUR FRIENDS

PS: Bananas must be the reason monkeys are so happy all the time!

One more thing ------want a quick shine on our shoes?? Take the
INSIDE of the banana skin, and rub directly on the shoe...polish with dry
cloth.

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Hello,

If you are tired of listening or reading about what is wrong with this world or your country or your neighbor or any other thing, then you have come to the right place. This blog is for you. This blog will focus only on what is right, not on what is wrong. This blog will focus only on the positive not on the negative (there are so many of this kind out there). So let us do our own share and tilt the balance beam towards what we like.

I wish to invite you to join me in writing about something positive. Let us write about what we like rather than what we don't like so that we can smile instead of frown.

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